Species profile
Spiny Lobster
Panulirus marginatus
At a glance
Spiny Lobster (Panulirus marginatus) is an IUCN Data Deficient invertebrate regulated in 6 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 2 (North Carolina); the most generous is 12 (Florida).
Across 4 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 3.1 in.
Confirmed by 69 research-grade iNaturalist observations, concentrated in Hawaii.
Notable details
- Panulirus marginatus is endemic to Hawaii and has declined sharply due to overfishing pressure.
- Unlike clawed lobsters, it defends itself with sharp, spiny antennae rather than large claws.
- It is nocturnal, hiding in reef crevices by day and foraging for mollusks at night.
- Females carry thousands of bright orange eggs attached to their swimmerets beneath the tail.
- Strict size and bag limits regulate the Hawaii fishery to help slow population declines.
Where Spiny Lobster are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Spiny Lobster
Background
Panulirus marginatus is a species of spiny lobster in the family Palinuridae which is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It is the subject of extensive commercial and recreational fisheries.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Spiny Lobster article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other invertebrates on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.